Sunday Gita Class Summary – 03/21/2021

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 14: The Three Modes of Material Nature: Verse 27

brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāham amṛtasyāvyayasya ca śāśvatasya ca dharmasya sukhasyaikāntikasya ca

Synonyms: brahmaṇaḥ — of the impersonal Brahman; hi — certainly; pratiṣṭhā — the basis; aham — I am; amṛtasya — of the immortal; avyayasya — of the imperishable; ca — also; śāśvatasya — of the eternal; ca — and; dharmasya — of the constitutional position; sukhasya — of happiness; aikāntikasya — ultimate; ca — also.

Translation: And I am the basis of the impersonal Brahman, which is immortal, imperishable and eternal and is the constitutional position of ultimate happiness.

This verse establishes the relationship between the personal and impersonal aspects of the Absolute Truth. The impersonal Brahman — the all-pervading spiritual effulgence — is not the ultimate reality; it is the bodily effulgence of Krishna. Krishna is the source and basis of Brahman.

Srila Prabhupada explains that this verse defeats the Mayavada (impersonalist) philosophy. The impersonalists seek to merge into Brahman, but Brahman itself rests upon Krishna. Therefore, the highest realization is not Brahman but the personal form of Krishna, and the highest happiness is found in devotional service to Him.